Berry Poppins® Winterberry

Berry Poppins® Winterberry (Ilex verticillata ‘FarrowBPop’) is a dwarf native holly that saves winter — the kind of plant that transforms a gray January landscape into something genuinely beautiful with its masses of brilliant red berries clinging to bare branches after the leaves have fallen. At just 3–4 feet, it fits residential gardens and smaller spaces that the full-sized winterberry varieties can’t, while delivering the same extraordinary winter berry display that makes Ilex verticillata one of the most visually striking native shrubs in North America. Thrives in wet soils where most shrubs struggle. Attracts birds. Deer resistant. Plant with Mr. Poppins® Winterberry for fruit production. Cold hardy to -40°F in Zones 3–9.

May be covered by USPP #25,835 or other patents.

Photo courtesy of Proven Winners ColorChoice Shrubs.

Red Berries on Bare Winter Branches — The Defining Moment

The winterberry display arrives after leaf drop — and that’s precisely when it’s most dramatic. The brilliant red berries that clustered beneath the summer foliage are suddenly fully visible against bare gray branches, creating a bold, jewel-like winter display that no evergreen can replicate. The berries persist through winter, providing visual interest through the coldest months and food for birds who find them increasingly attractive as other food sources disappear.

Thrives in Wet Soils — Where Most Shrubs Won’t

Ilex verticillata is native to wetlands and stream edges across eastern North America — and Berry Poppins® carries that native adaptability into the home garden. Where most ornamental shrubs require well-drained soil and struggle in wet or clay conditions, Berry Poppins® thrives in the moist to average conditions that challenge other plantings. Rain gardens, low spots, pond edges, and consistently moist borders are all ideal situations where this compact native holly earns its place.

Plant With Mr. Poppins® — One Male Pollinates Five Females

Berry Poppins® requires a male pollinator nearby for berry production — and Mr. Poppins® Winterberry is the specifically matched male partner. One Mr. Poppins® planted within 50 feet can service up to five Berry Poppins® plants, making it an efficient pairing for larger groupings or mass plantings where the combined display is genuinely spectacular.

Why Gardeners Choose Berry Poppins® Winterberry

• Brilliant red winter berries on bare branches — the most dramatic native winter display available
• Compact 3–4 foot habit — full winterberry impact in smaller residential gardens
• Thrives in wet soils — a native solution for the landscape spots most shrubs reject
• Attracts birds through winter — valuable wildlife habitat through the coldest months
• Deer resistant — reliable performance where deer pressure is a consistent challenge
• Cold hardy to -40°F — Zone 3–9 adaptability across the widest range of American climates